clinging to his arm.
The elevator doors opened and they stepped out. The nurse’s station was directly in front of them and a young Hispanic nurse dressed in blue scrubs sat behind the counter. Emily recognized her too—she had helped the nurse and her husband buy a home a few years before. After a few words of pleasantries and greetings, they inquired about Mrs. Wakefield’s condition and asked if they could visit her.
“She’s doing better, she should be checking out before too long. Her daughter is with her right now.”
“Her daughter?” Emily peered up at Colin with a curious look. There had never been any mention of Lucas having a sister.
“Yes, but I’m sure she won’t mind you visiting. She’s been here every day since Mrs. Wakefield checked in,” the nurse said. “She might welcome a break.”
The nurse directed them to the room number, and they thanked her as they strolled down the wide sterile hallway toward her room.
“I’ll ask the nurses again when I come back, Mom. Try to get some sleep,” Emily and Colin overheard the female voice say as they opened the door to the room, almost bumping into the young woman coming out.
“Fiona?” Emily questioned with surprise.
Wait. What? Did I just hear her call Gloria, Mom?
“Uh, Emily, hi. What are you doing here?” Fiona looked surprised, as well. “Let’s talk out here,” she said in a low voice, pulling the door shut. “Mrs. Wakefield is trying to sleep.”
“We came to see how Gloria was doing. We didn’t think anyone else would be here,” Emily said.
Fiona looked up at Colin. “Hello, I’m Fiona. I don’t think we’ve met.” She extended her hand.
“I’m Colin, a friend of Emily’s.” He gave her hand a quick shake.
“I’m Lucas’s assistant, that is, I was his assistant…” her voice crackled and trailed off as she began to tear up.
“Oh, I see,” Colin said.
“That must have been quite a shock to hear he died, Fiona.” Emily exhibited sympathy but she wondered how much of a shock it really had been. “I guess you’ll be looking for another job now.”
“Yes, but not ’til Mrs. Wakefield is out of the hospital. Lucas would want someone looking after his mother, don’t you think? It’s the least I can do. He was always good to me. He was a wonderful boss.” Fiona looked past Colin and Emily. She wiped a tear with her hand as it trickled down her cheek.
Fiona’s tears definitely exposed her real feelings for Lucas, confirming what Emily had already suspected—that they shared more than just a working relationship. But was she really his sister?
Should she bring it up? Emily decided against parading what she knew, hoping to learn more first.
“I’m sure he was good to you, Fiona.” Emily nodded, placating her. “By the way, did I just hear you call Mrs. Wakefield, Mom?”
“Yes,” Fiona giggled nervously. “But only so the nurses would let me see her,” she replied softly, peering around as if to make sure no nurses were within earshot. “She has no one else. After I heard what happened to Lucas on the news, and that his mother had a heart attack from the shock of it, I rushed right over here. I’m glad I did—the poor woman is all alone in the world now.”
“Did she know who you were?” Colin asked.
“Yes, she did. I had met her at the engagement party, so she recognized me as her son’s assistant. She seemed glad for the company. After the doctors and nurses started letting me see her without questioning me, she asked me if I’d keep calling her Mom. She said it would make her feel better, since her only child was gone now. So, I’m just doing it to humor her.” Fiona turned and glanced back at the door. “I feel sorry for the old woman.”
“Well, if she’s trying to sleep, we’d better not bother her,” Emily remarked. “Let her know we were by, all right?”
“Sure, I’ll tell her,” Fiona promised.
Emily and Colin left Fiona standing in the hallway and made their way back to the elevator. As they passed the nurse’s station, the young dark-haired nurse looked up from a file on her desk. “That was a short visit,” she commented.
“Mrs. Wakefield was trying to sleep, so we’ll come back another time,” Colin explained.
“That’s probably just as well. She hasn’t gotten much sleep, she must have had a bad experience in the hospital before.”
“What do you mean?” Emily asked.
“Oh, you know women—we like to keep our personal items and valuables close